Wicker Smith

Jacksonville Partner, Rick Ramsey, and Miami Partner, Jessica Gross, recently prevailed in an appellate matter considered by Florida's Fifth District Court of Appeal. Rick Ramsey handled the underlying case, a premises liability matter for a national fast food chain involving allegations of failure to properly warn of a dangerous condition and failure to properly maintain the premises. The Plaintiff slipped on an area of the floor that had been recently mopped by a store employee. A bright yellow wet floor sign was prominently displayed in the area. The Plaintiff initially denied seeing the wet floor sign but later tried to correct her testimony when the store video proved otherwise. The Plaintiff argued she was trapped and had no other choice but to traverse the wet floor because it was the path to the exit. The Court entered final summary judgment in favor of our client in July 2022. ? Jessica Gross handled the appeal. The Fifth DCA affirmed with a PCA and provisionally granted our motion for attorney’s fees. Proposals for settlement were served nearly five years before the entry of summary judgment, triggering our right to seek recovery of attorney’s fees. Congratulations Rick and Jessica on this excellent outcome.?

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Miami Partner, Jaime Baca, and Associates, Alina Gonzalez and Claudia Aravena, recently obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a defendant driver in an automobile negligence case in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The team was assisted at trial by co-counsel Anita Figueroa. This case arose from an accident that occurred after our driver, who was operating a commercial vehicle, rear-ended the Plaintiff, pushing her into another vehicle. Plaintiff was a world renowned Martial Artist with no records of any prior neck injury, back injury, or treatment. She claimed wage loss and ongoing pain, and underwent an ACDF neck surgery. The Court initially allowed punitive damages against our driver, but Fort Lauderdale Partner, Alyssa Reiter, assisted in getting that count dismissed via Summary Judgment. We admitted liability and tried the case on damages, arguing the injury was minor and Plaintiff’s symptoms did not correlate with an acute herniation since her MRI imaging showed pre-existing degeneration, consistent with 40 years of martial arts. After a five day trial, Plaintiff asked the jury for $3.1 million. The jury found that the accident was not the legal cause of the injury, and returned a defense verdict. Congratulations to Jaime and his entire team on this great work and excellent outcome for our client.?

Wicker Smith was a proud sponsor of the 66th Annual NCH Ball, held on March 8 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach. Naples partner Lindsey Grossman and her husband Dr. Grossman attended on behalf of the firm, along with Naples team members law clerk Doria Keys Kohon, paralegal Jordan LaRiche, and legal assistant Denise Rocha. The year's event raised funds for education and professional development opportunities for the nursing and hospital staff within NCH. It was an opportunity to give back to the frontline care workers who are such an integral part of the healthcare system. It is our sincere honor to sponsor this event each year, and to partner with NCH to support such an important cause.

Despite attempts to ban non-compete agreements, they very much remain enforceable in Florida. In this article, Labor & Employment attorney Rob Paradela breaks down everything you need to know about drafting and enforcing non-compete and non-solicitation agreements in Florida. ? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eCNRNqUZ For inquiries about how Wicker Smith can help you with Labor & Employment matters in Florida, contact a member of our L&E Team. Jason Glusman Charlie Garcia Drew Vogt Robert Paradela Jr

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Nashville partner John Floyd, Jr., recently obtained summary judgment in a medical malpractice case in Calloway County, Kentucky. ? Plaintiff in this case alleged that she suffered permanent injury as a result of a cervical manipulation performed by our client chiropractor. After party depositions, we moved for summary judgment on the grounds that Plaintiff could not provide any causal link between the treatment she received from our client and her eventual injury. The Court agreed, granting summary judgment and dismissing the case against our client with prejudice. ? Congratulations John on this great result.?

Wicker Smith attorneys are frequent presenters at industry conferences, professional organizations, and as continuing education providers for clients. Some of our recent engagements include: ? ?? Mandi Karvis, Phoenix: “Thank You for Being Nice: The Importance & Benefits of Civility in Litigation,” (State Bar of Arizona’s CLE in the Red Rocks Conference) ?? Erik Crep, Miami: “Check, Please! Ethical Billing Practices to Avoid Fee Disputes,” (Continuing Education session for a firm client) ?? Douglas B. Lumpkin, Sarasota: “Reducing the Risk of Medical Liability Through Documentation and Communication,” (Continuing Education session for a firm client) ?? Bryan Yasinsac, Orlando: “Defending Against Lifecare Plans & Combatting Plaintiff’s Damages Claims,” (USLAW NETWORK, Inc., Transportation & Logistics Exchange) ?? Mike Reed, Tampa: “Building the Right Defense Team,” (Continuing Education session for a firm client) ? For inquiries about client presentations or other speaking engagements, reach out to us at [email protected]